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Police Chief Willie Lovett is calling on witnesses to come forward and Mayor Edna Jackson has planned a 10 a.m. press conference following a Saturday night shooting that injured seven at the Coastal Empire Fairgrounds.

Most of the injuries were not life-threatening, but one victim required surgery and was listed in fair condition Sunday.

Investigators worked through the night Saturday and into Sunday questioning suspects, all of whom were later released. No arrests had been made by Sunday evening, and police were not sure whether one gunman or multiple shooters were involved.

What they have learned is that about 10:40 p.m. Saturday, about 15 males, who appeared to be in their late teens, converged on the midway. At least one, Lovett said, had a gun in his waistband, a witness later told police.

The teens were from two factions. One was a group from Tatemville. The second, from an area of town slightly north, near 54th and Montgomery streets, known as “The Hellhole.”

Police working the fair as off-duty security had scrambled to quell a fight in another area of the fair when shots began ringing out.

Paul Glover, who lives near the fairgrounds, said his wife called their 19-year-old son as soon as she heard about the shooting to tell him to get home immediately. He told his father he was nearby when the shooting started.

Mayor Jackson learned of the shootings on her way to church Sunday. She contacted other City Council members to plan a 10 a.m. press conference today. She is concerned about this shooting and other recent crimes involving teenagers.

“Innocent people are being shot and killed,” she said. “They’re not getting along with each other and they’re using guns. We cannot tolerate that in Savannah. Our residents should not feel that they can't be safe at public functions and in their neighborhood.”

Lovett believes there are bystanders who saw what happened, and he repeated a call that investigators often struggle with after shootings here: an unwillingness for witnesses to help police. He urged anyone who could help to call investigators or call CrimeStoppers.

“We need to get these kids,” he said. “They had no regard for human life whatsoever, shooting into a crowd of people like that. I hope that when these people are brought to justice, the justice system holds them in the same regard.”

Police resources

Lovett has done more than ask for the public's assistance.

Earlier this year, his department submitted a number of requests to increase personnel. He asked for five juvenile officers to work more closely with youth crime issues. His head of criminal investigations asked for 12 more investigators, two property room techs, a sergeant to supervise and five administrative assistants, which would free up detectives from the crush of paperwork.

The chief also followed up on a request for a street-level drug unit he made during a meeting earlier this year with Jackson and then-City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney and Alderman Tony Thomas. In the written proposal, the department asked for 30 more officers for the drug unit.

His staff estimated the total cost to equip the unit and pay salaries would be $2.8 million.

The five juvenile officers were estimated to cost $492,719. The investigators, sergeant and property techs were estimated at $1.2 million. The five investigative administrative assistants: $156,749. The total of the requests: about $4.6 million.

None of the requests is part of the 2013 budget. City budget staff this Wednesday and Thursday will present a proposed budget that calls for no new funding requests for any department, including police.

Council members will be presented with each department's requests and can decide how many, if any, will be included in the budget.

What they will have to figure out is how to pay for any additional approvals.

The city is projected to end this year with no surplus and had to tap into its reserve funds to break even for 2012.

Jackson remembered Lovett's request and expects it to be presented.

“That is one thing we will be looking for in the new budget,” she said.

On the midway

Sunday afternoon, hours before the fair was about to close, parents pushed babies in strollers, older children scooted from one ride to another and couples strolled hand in hand.

Paul Glover Sr. had his 2-year-old granddaughter on his shoulders. The daytime is fine, he said.

“Night time, no. We go home,” he said.

Not far away, Nicole Soldan was ushering four children out of the gates and back toward their car. Her daughter, Isabella, was celebrating her seventh birthday. They went to the fair Saturday night, despite Soldan's reservations, because Isabella was insistent.

She left with the children and was relieved and thankful Sunday they hadn't stayed.Isabella, Laura, 14, Harrison, 11, and friend Mary Tippins, 7, left Sunday loaded down with food, stuffed animals and smiles.

“Today was wonderful,” Soldan said.

Those are the memories fair president Chris Hafer wants remembered.

Before Saturday night, they had nothing but good news. The fair had attracted more than 60,000 people, an increase from last year, even in a weak economy.

He was on the midway Sunday, as were many other members of the Exchange Club. The fair began 63 years ago as a fundraiser to support youth organizations, such as the Jenkins Boys and Girls Club. It also contributes to the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and each year sponsors the Quick Think-A-Thon, which teaches elementary school children about the risks of downed power lines and similar hazards.

Gun violence hasn't been part of the education, Hafer said, but in light of Saturday, it might need to be.

In the hours since the shooting, Hafer’s immediate priority Sunday, aside from staying on site to assure a smooth final day to the fair, was to offer the victims and their families his prayers.

He was hesitant to say what, if anything, needed to change, but said the board of directors would discuss any changes, as they do after every fair.

Nearly 50 off-duty Savannah-Chatham metro police officers were working as security. Within minutes of the shooting, the number of law enforcement, including Georgia State Patrol and Chatham County Sheriff's deputies, swelled to about 150, he said.

“We were doing our best to protect everybody,” he said. “As soon as shots were fired, we carried out our emergency plan. We locked everything down to control the situation. The response from law enforcement was incredible.”

Hafer said he, too, initially wondered whether metal detectors should be installed. At the grounds on Sunday, he looked at the hundreds of feet of chain-link fence and realized how easy it would be for someone to pass through a gun. Even more police or a different location might not help.

The fair’s location, off 62nd Street from Montgomery Street, has become a point of concern for some.

Though the grounds are well-lit and police and volunteers plentiful, it is ringed by some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, and the signs of people living in abject poverty are everywhere.

Hafer on Sunday wasn’t sure anywhere would be safe. “What if we had it at The Pink House downtown? The same thing happened there,” he said. “So where do we go? Do we not go to movies because of what happened in Colorado?”

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Savannah has not been tough enough on the thugs. City council and the Savannah Police Department have both been slack in getting the message across that such behavior as the recent murders and the outbreak at the fair are just not acceptable. We need some kind of intervention in Savannah, and maybe a police chief with better credentials. Also, the city might be more selective in hiring city policemen. There's just no excuse for Savannah citizens having to deal with fear when they go out in public. More people need to express outrage at the slackness on the part of the city and county leaders, and especially the Chatham Metro Police Department. Twenty two murders (maybe twenty three as one's undetermined) is just unacceptable.

Really!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Coastal Empire Fair is Probably older than you are. It has been in the "ghetto" for many, many years. That is not why this happened! We need our Mayor, Police chief, police and citizens of Savannah....(especially the "No Snitch policy ones" and until it happens to them)......needs to "take accountability" First we need to hold the parents accountable for some of this. Let's go around the world...
Medical student in "Jaipur" goes on shooting rampage after a teacher was fired.
Student goes on rampage at Howard County University.
NCC Cadet shoots student just for 'campaigning" for PEACE...
Students go on rampage after "not being allowed to CHEAT". The majority of these places were Not in the Ghetto.....
So now Thugs are "everywhere" in all shapes, colors, sizes if you get my drift......

There seems to have been a rash of shootings of late in Savannah. This is absolutely unacceptable. The old saying guns do not kill people, people do. Where is the respect for others or the simple respect for life ? I'm having a hard time excepting this. Perhaps they should look at plain clothes officers on duty at such events. So they can flow around the events and catch something like this before it happens. I don't fault the police as they are making a effort. It just appears they may need to change tactics a little.

Worthless pieces of garbage! Please remove from the earth the trash that surrounds us! Everywhere I go in our city I see the behaviour of young unedcuated pieces of crap like this. It's sad that it almost doesn't surprise me anymore. I hear words spoken that are virtually non comprehendable. No regard for human life. Sorry excuse for a human!

again. I wonder will they move Savannah to the top of the most dangerous cities. Now the news is out, I wonder who will come to such a dangerous city for vacation? After these events I promise my family will never go to the fair again.

I say we let EVERYONE in Ga., Fl., Tn., Sc., NC., & other places in the US what's going on in Savannah & how unsafe it is to travel here. I say get the mayor, Chief of police & other higher up's in Savannah in their WALLET..... People not coming to Savannah because of it being unsafe will stop the $$$ coming to Savannah & the "Higher up's will get off their BUTT'S & do something about it. Not only arrest the THUGS but keep them in JAIL don't release them in 48 hours, so what if there's not enough space put them 6 to one jail cell, & only 1 meal a day. They have no feelings for anyone else so why should we care how they are living in jail....So glad I moved OUT OF SAVANNAH....

...displayed in this comment thread show one of the biggest problems in the community. And to think you find yourselves superior to the "thugs" you speak of! You're just not as desperate...why take guns into the street when you can use the computer as your weapon shielded by your anonymous "handle?" You are equally guilty in perpetrating the problems here in Savannah. Autodd above is actually wishing more people had been injured or someone had died. As long as this hatred persists, there is no way to expect the police to deal with the fallout from poverty and segregation. I am so proud I am not from this backwards, snooty-town, and believe me...I can't wait until the day I see it in my rear view mirror. But it will be because of people like YOU, not the poor corner boys who have no hope for a brighter future.

"And to think you find yourselves superior to the "thugs" you speak of!"

Yes, i do think I am better than street thugs who rob and kill for no othr reason than it's easier than working for a living.

"You are equally guilty in perpetrating the problems here in Savannah."

Again, no. I have not murdered or robbed anyone. I have not tried to shoot or rob or commit any type of felony. I have not put people into positions of power based on racists agendas. I do not spew hatred and intolerance of other races.

I have worked and paid taxes my 19 years living here. And I can definitely say, no, I have not perpetuated crime, racial problems and City Hall fiascos here in Savannah.

I spent the day yesterday flying home. I made sure to share with everyone what a dangerous place Savannah has become. I did so because I know the ONLY way the incompetent brood at City Council will address the crime problem is when the money stops flowing. It's always the money.

Have lived here my entire life but having traveled a bit lately I am seeing just how backward Savannah is in so many ways. Coddling the "teens" with guns and always making excuses for them. Political correctness has caused countless deaths.

Segregation has been gone since the late sixties. The War on Poverty has been being fought with our tax money for 50+ years...still losing. At what point do we wave the white flag and try a different approach?

Our city is in crisis. We have leaders that hold our police force back. Our police force has low morale due the our pathetic District Attorney. Our District attorney is more concerned about racial politics than justice. The ex black city manager, current black mayor, black city council members, and black citizens blame crime problems on white oppression. White business leaders and white citizens blame crime problems on black citizens that protect the criminals by not turning them in. Everyone is pointing fingers in the opposite direction while innocent people are being killed in our streets almost everyday. Justice will be denied until our citizens and government officials come together and decide that 1 murder, 1 mugging, 1 stolen car, and 1 DUI is too many.

We need more parents and fewer baby daddies. All else is talk and misdirected smoke and mirrors.

Meanwhile, Edna wrings her hands and doesn't know what to do. Too bad that we aren't voting for a new mayor tomorrow because this one hasn't got a clue. The only reason Edna is holding a press conference is because the shooting at the fair grounds is now front-page headline national news.

and yet all the Mayor and Clowncil can do is hold a press conference. Umm, no one needs a press conference to learn what is happening in our city. What this city needs is real leadership and action, not more lip service.

And Willie Lovett reinforced everyone's opinion that he is in WAY over his head. The victims were "in the wrong place at the wrong time?" How about the shooter was in the wrong place. Willie sounds like he's blaming the victims....which he probably is because at least he can find them to work on their decision making skills about what to do with your free time in Savannah.

Many of the people posting on this article still have fresh memories of living in Savannah during the Ricky Jivens Jr. "Gang" in the late 80's. Perhaps you should read the October 30, 2012 updated SMN article Slideshow: "The Rise & Fall Of The Ricky Jivens Gang". Then you might understand why we post with such dislike about today's problems. It appears the youth in Savannah are wandering down the same old path of the past.

I have lived outside of this God forsaken city my entire life. If it weren't for my son wanting to be close to his grandparents I would have been gone 12 years ago. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to venture outside of Effingham County. Yeah, yeah, meth this, meth that....throw me one I haven't heard......
What is left when you can't go to the local fair without fear of being shot??? I haven't been to the Coastal Empire Fair in 15 years because the last time I was there it looked like Compton. Going to the mall is often a questionable move. Going to work is a risk. It is INSANE how much unrest there is here.

I seem to recall a statement made by Chief Lovett during the summer sale on shootings that he had all the help he needed in combating crime and pointed to the lowest statistics in years as proof. Now we're hearing there is a need for a whole new army of cops to deal with "youth crime issues".

I seem to recall statements made by Chief Lovett that there is no gang activity in Savannah. Now we're hearing of "factions" in Tatemville and Hellhole-- "factions", not gangs-- like they're some sort of youth sports league for amateur marksmen.

The larger problem, as I see it, is that Savannah's paltry leaders suffer from a lack of Plain Speech and Clear Understanding. Edna Jackson is the single best example of a Mugwump as I've ever seen, a sanctimonious, holier-than-thou person who makes her way to church in response to a gang war at a fair instead of taking command of city hall and directing a field operation of the police. We need less prayer and more participation from the mayor. And if she can't do her job any better than Rochelle did hers, Edna needs to follow her out the door. NOW.

Can't wait for another one of Edna's inarticulate "press conferences" - Grateful Dude is right on - she pretends she cares only when it makes national news - otherwise, she throws her support right behind RST and the thugs until it becomes politically incorrect not to do so. But according to the editor of our paper, we should be giving her a "group hug" for her spineless behavior.

... which requires both long term and short term solutions and it is naive to think it is only a challenge in Savannah. The short term solutions are obvious. Metal detectors and searches of purses at the gate together with increased police protection inside to help stop the incidents. Security cameras inside to identify perpetrators and not have to solely depend on eye witnesses which are not always forthcoming.

I don't have a clue what the long term solution is, if there is one. All our past actions have done, including the "Great Society," is to create a permanent underclass. People spend time arguing about feral cats when the real problem is feral kids. Whatever the solution is, it is sure to involve "tough love." If it isn't administered by parents it will have to be administered by our justice system by default.

It is plain to see that citizens like you are interested in being part of the solution. Yes, it is good and productive that you pay your taxes, and vote your conscience, and mostly that you choose not to perpetrate racism and discord. You are not the type of person I was addressing...my comments were directed toward those who equate their fellow human beings with vermin and call names. Yes I agree there are problems here, but they are very complex. Since my first post, I see the level of discourse on this thread has improved greatly, that's what I was initially responding to, and now I regret my tone, also. It's easy and convenient to criticize those whose lives we can never understand, but it serves no purpose other than to further alienate and harm those who need help the most, the children growing up in these "ghettos" we pretend don't exist until violence erupts. I also think most young people would rather work for an honest wage than engage in a life of crime...and eventually end up dead or spending time in prison; but I wonder how many of those people who posted above would be willing to offer a job to a young black man who comes from a place called "Hellhole." Supporting good education and economic opportunity won't put a stop to crime, as there will always be sociopaths (like Ricky Givens, and I fully recognize that, because I taught one of his sons in high school, and that kid never had a chance)...but it will go a long way toward making Savannah a safer place to live and raise children.

Pay attention in stores - you will hear the black mamas cursing at their children like they are animals. That's part of the problem. No love, affection, kindness and tenderness toward their children - not all of them but alot of them. I don't hear other races (not just whites) speaking to their children in horrible language in stores. The other day in Wal-Mart a black woman and two men were looking at a shirt. She said, " I don't want the mother f___ to wrinkle - right in front of a child about 4 years old who was with them. Not to mention, everyone in the store who heard it. Stores in SAvannah really aren't fit to go into much anymore.

The police told someone who attempted to enter the fair on Saturday that it wasn't a family friendly night. It should have been shut down or the police should have called in assistance. People can do without the fair and if it's perceived that a dangerous environment exists, it should be handled immediately. Off duty officers and other agencies could have been called in before trouble started.

The police department needs to do away with boat patrol and whatever other specialized units we really don't need and put all of the officers ON THE STREET. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THE CRIME IN SAVANNAH IS GOING TO COME UNDER CONTROL. A COP ON EVERY CORNER.

The older black males need to get in the street and beat the literal hell out of the thugs. Perhaps the thugs need to be turned over to family members of those they injure and murder for punishment. I expect that might solve the problems. Fear of a family, I'm sure, is much greater than jail.

The military will turn these thugs into men, and they can learn how to properly shoot in Afgahnistan instead of that stupid sideways crap they do ( which is probably why no one was seriously hurt)
Go to jail or go to the military should be the option.

do you actually WANT these felons to receive firearms training and then return them to our streets? How foolish an option. Send them to Reidsville where they can learn to do homemade tattoos and other felon skills. I hope they continue to shoot with that stupid sideways grip so they can't see the aiming sights.

Somebody said they were sorry the shooter didn't have a better shot, no your momma and kids should get shot in da face walking out of wal-mart! See how that sounds? My kids were there you sorry(B)... I'm not making excuses for them find them and put them away!!! No comments from none of y'all on that nasty (A) white man felt up and tried to (F) a special needs child but toss my people to the lions. Gods watching... WhiteSav!!!